March 2019 NBA Wiretap

Lakers Convinced LeBron James To Shut Down Season, According To Luke Walton

Mar 31, 2019 10:18 PM

Luke Walton said that the Los Angeles Lakers convinced LeBron James to shut the rest of his season down due to injury concerns.

"He wants to play. My understanding from the medical staff, they finally said, 'Look, it's just not worth it anymore. Let's make sure you have a healthy summer.' So that's the decision that was made, and we'll move forward without him on the floor for the final six," said Walton.

Walton added that James was too competitive to shut down his season after the Lakers were eliminated from the playoffs.

"Well, I think that goes back to him wanting to compete. Even though it's over, he wants to be out there playing with his guys. Eventually, as that time goes on and on, it's easier to tell someone like that, 'Let's take care of your health right now.' So that's kind of how the decision came," said Walton.

Dave McMenamin/ESPN

Tags: LeBron James, Los Angeles Lakers, NBA, NBA B-Ball IQ

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Dunc'd On: News Catchup and Center Rankings 2019

Mar 31, 2019 7:45 PM

Listen to "News Catchup and Center Rankings 2019" on Spreaker.

 

Click to subscribe via RSS feed or iTunes.

We catch up on news, including what Jusuf Nurkic's injury means to the Blazers and the rest of the injuries and intrigue league-wide. Then we rank the league's centers. Where to Embiid, Towns, Jokic, Ayton, Kanter, Capela, Turner, Vuc, and more fall this year?

With host Nate Duncan (@NateDuncanNBA).  And if you like this pod, please donate to support Nate and Danny at Patreon.com/DuncanLeroux.  Merchandise available at NateDuncanNBA.com.

Tags: NBA, Dunc'd On

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Jimmy Butler On Sixers' Season: 'We Can Do Something Special'

Mar 31, 2019 7:38 PM

Jimmy Butler said that the Philadelphia 76ers were locked in following their win over the Minnesota Timberwolves on Saturday night.

“We can do something special. We talk about it every single day. Everything we do, we’re locked in, focused. We know what we can do. We know what paper says we can do. We know what people expect us to do. Name it. We got to be the ones to go out there and do it. And the crazy thing is, I know that we’re capable of doing it,” said Butler.

Butler added that there was no lingering animosity between him and the Timberwolves' organization.

“It’s basketball, bruh. I’ve still got a pretty decent relationship with a lot of guys over there. I don’t think nobody is going to take nothing personal. I’m cool with that. I’m a 76er right now, and we’re going to take it that way moving forward. I wish everybody the best of luck. I wish everybody the best of health. It is what it is.”

Michael Lee/The Athletic

Tags: Jimmy Butler, Minnesota Timberwolves, Philadelphia Sixers, NBA, NBA B-Ball IQ

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Lakers Sign Jemerrio Jones

Mar 31, 2019 6:17 PM

The Los Angeles Lakers have signed forward Jemerrio Jones.

Jones appeared in 47 games (six starts) for the South Bay Lakers this season, averaging 9.4 points, a team-leading 9.6 rebounds, 3.5 assists, 1.4 steals and 1.0 blocks in 24.7 minutes. Jones tallied double-digit rebounds in 21 games and finished the season with 15 double-doubles. The former WAC Player of the Year grabbed a career-high 18 rebounds twice on the season and scored a career-high 21 points on March 21 vs. Stockton.

RealGM Staff Report

Tags: Jemerrio Jones, Los Angeles Lakers, South Bay Lakers, NBA, NBA Signing Rumor, NBA Misc Rumor, D-League, D-League Teams

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Sources Contend Mavs Were Informed Of Possible 'Extortion' Not 'Rape' Involving Kristaps Porzingis

Mar 31, 2019 6:15 PM

According to two sources, the Dallas Mavericks were informed by the New York Knicks of a possible 'extortion' against Kristaps Porzingis and not of a pending rape allegation.

"The word that was used was 'extortion,'" one of the sources said.

"The word 'rape' was never used, only 'extortion,'" the second source said.

ESPN previously reported that the Mavericks were informed of the alleged rape by the Knicks during a trade call with the NBA.

Porzingis didn't travel with the Mavericks to their game on Saturday at Oklahoma City.

Brad Townsend/Dallas Morning News

Tags: Kristaps Porzingis, Dallas Mavericks, New York Knicks, NBA, NBA Misc Rumor, NBA Suspension

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Joel Embiid To Sit Out Rest Of Road Trip, Will Be Re-Evaluated Thursday

Mar 31, 2019 12:36 PM

Joel Embiid, who sat out the first game of the Philadelphia 76ers' 3-game road trip against the Minnesota Timberwolves last night, will miss the last 2 games of their road trip for rest.

Brett Brown said the situation "wasn't ideal," but that the team had to get Embiid ready for the playoffs.

"This is not sort of a reaction to symptoms. It's just load management. Again, we're just trying to be smart and deliver him to play in the playoffs ready to go," added Brown.

ESPN

Tags: Joel Embiid, Philadelphia Sixers, NBA, NBA Injury

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Dewayne Dedmon Out For Season With Ankle Injury

Mar 31, 2019 12:31 PM

Dewayne Dedmon will miss the rest of the Atlanta Hawks' season after suffering a left ankle injury.

Dedmon is scheduled to undergo a non-surgical procedure to alleviate soreness in his left ankle.

Dedmon is averging 10.8 points and 7.5 rebounds per game this season.

NBA.com

Tags: Dewayne Dedmon, Atlanta Hawks, NBA, NBA Injury

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Deandre Ayton Leaves Game With Sprained Ankle

Mar 31, 2019 12:26 PM

Deandre Ayton sprained his left ankle in the 3rd quarter of the Phoenix Suns' 120-115 loss to the Memphis Grizzlies. Ayton did not return to the game.

The Suns provided no updates following the game.

Ayton is averaging 16.3 points and 10.3 rebounds in his rookie season.

NBA.com

Tags: Deandre Ayton, Phoenix Suns, NBA, NBA Injury

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Bulls Sign JaKarr Sampson To 10-Day Contract

Mar 31, 2019 12:12 PM

The Bulls have signed forward JaKarr Sampson to a 10-day contract as a Call-Up from Chicago’s G League affiliate the Windy City Bulls, pursuant to the NBA’s hardship roster rules.  

Sampson (6-9, 215) appeared in 24 games this season for Windy City, posting averages of 21.1 points, 9.2 rebounds, 2.0 assists and 1.17 blocks in 30.2 minutes per game.

RealGM Staff Report

Tags: JaKarr Sampson, Chicago Bulls, Windy City Bulls, NBA, NBA Signing Rumor, NBA Misc Rumor, D-League, D-League Teams

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Wolves Sign Mitch Creek To 10-Day Contract

Mar 31, 2019 10:01 AM

Mitch Creek has signed a 10-day contract with the Minnesota Timberwolves. 

In 41 games (32 starts) for Long Island during the regular season, Creek averaged 15.3 points, 5.5 rebounds and 2.3 assists in 30.6 minutes per contest while shooting 55.2 percent from the field. He scored in double figures in 33 games and posted 20 or more points 11 times. The Australia native also appeared in one playoff game for the Nets, recording a double-double with 13 points, 12 rebounds, three assists and two steals in 34 minutes in Long Island’s Eastern Conference Semifinals victory over the Raptors 905 on March 29.

RealGM Staff Report

Tags: Mitchell Creek, Minnesota Timberwolves, NBA, NBA Signing Rumor, NBA Misc Rumor, D-League

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Jimmy Butler On Boos In Minnesota Return: 'I Don't Care About Being Loved All The Time'

Malika Andrews/ESPN

Mavericks Were Informed Of Kristaps Porzingis' Rape Allegations By Knicks During Trade Call

Adrian Wojnarowski/ESPN

Kristaps Porzingis Under Investigation For Alleged Rape In February 2018

Tina Moore/New York Post

LeBron James Ruled Out For Remainder Of Season

RealGM Staff Report

Patrick McCaw Out With Sprained Thumb, To Be Re-Evaluated In 3 Weeks

NBA.com

Rajon Rondo On Potential Lakers' Return: 'The Only Way We Can Go From Here Is Up'

Dave McMenamin/ESPN

Steph Curry Calls Ref 'MVP' Of Game Following Warriors Loss

Nick Friedell/ESPN

Pelicans Receive Permission To Begin Interviewing GM Candidates

Adrian Wojnarowski/ESPN

Bol Bol Enters NBA Draft After Hiring Agent

Nick DePaula/ESPN

Knicks Shut Down Frank Ntilikina For Season With Groin Injury

ESPN

Teammates Criticized LeBron James' Body Language In Players-Only Meeting In Memphis

Dave McMenamin/ESPN

Jerry West Couldn't Believe Lakers Traded Ivica Zubac To Clippers

Dave McMenamin/ESPN

Trajan Langdon Named G League Executive Of The Year

RealGM Staff Report

Bradley Beal Not Sure If He Would Sign Supermax Extension With Wizards

Fred Katz/The Athletic

Lakers Never Made Offer To Julius Randle In Restricted Free Agecny

Dave McMenamin/ESPN

Paul George Swayed More By What Thunder Did Right Than Lakers Did Wrong

Dave McMenamin/ESPN

Hawks Sign Deyonta Davis To 2nd 10-Day Contract

RealGM Staff Report

Luc Mbah a Moute Undergoes Partial Medial Meniscectomy On Left Knee

RealGM Staff Report

2,000 Slovenia Fans Attend Luka Doncic-Goran Dragic Matchup In Miami

ESPN

Spurs Retire Manu Ginobili's Jersey In Post-Game Ceremony

Michael C. Wright/ESPN